Developing Ideas for Art Making

Ideas come to us in many ways. Salvador Dalí is said to have wakened himself after ten minutes of sleep in order to record his dreams. Sometimes it's just something beautiful like nature or a landscape that can capture our imaginations. There are many ways to capture your ideas. A sketchbook is an ideal place to start. These days, everyone carries a cellphone. Photographs can be great reference material. Some artists draw directly on tablets, which also have cameras. 

It’s important to be flexible and try new art mediums. Consider using the medium that best expresses your idea. The famous dancer/choreographer, Twyla Thorpe, uses a literal creative box. She uses cardboard file boxes that stack nicely on a shelf. The first thing she adds is a blue card describing the goal of the project she is working on. From there, she’ll add anything that she finds inspiring, be it a magazine article or a photo or any of the many other items that motivate her creativity. 

Computers can be used for researching images and recording ideas and trying different compositions. Sculptures often use 3D image generators or, less expensive methods for creating small-scale replicas. Any of these approaches will give you a firm foundation for creating your masterpiece.

Sketchbooks are a versatile tool. The same way writers always carry notebooks, you should keep one with you at all times. As I write this, it occurs to me that this is something I really should do. Use it not only for drawing but also to write down ideas, thoughts, impressions, and details. Draw what inspires you. Draw from your imagination, doodle, practice different techniques.

A maquette is a scaled-down model or a rough draft of a sculpture. It gives you a chance to play with composition and proportion. Use whatever is at hand to develop your idea. Make adjustments and create another model using the same material.

I’m not disparaging computer generated art but, this blog is about feeling the materials. Getting your hands covered in chalk or clay. Creating something that doesn’t require a laptop to view. The best advice anyone can get is to just start.